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Chapter 1- Purpose of and Need for Action <br />Pallid Sturgeon <br />The pallid sturgeon is one of the largest fishes found in the Missouri - Mississippi River drainage, with <br />specimens weighing up to 85 pounds (39 kilograms). The species is a bottom dweller, found in areas of <br />strong current and sandy or gravel bottom in the main channel of large turbid rivers, such as the Missouri <br />River and the Lower Platte River. The species was listed as endangered in 1990. <br />HABITAT FEATURES USED BY THE TARGET SPECIES <br />In subsequent chapters, the following river - related habitat used by the target species is described <br />in detail: <br />Open channel habitat (including bare sandbars) for whooping crane roosting and for nesting <br />and foraging of the piping plover and interior least tern. <br />Riverflows conducive to whooping crane roosting in spring and fall. <br />Riverflows conducive to nesting by piping plover and interior least terns. <br />Riverflows which support forage fish for the interior least tern. <br />Bottomland grasslands and wetlands for whooping crane foraging. <br />Lower Platte River habitat for the pallid sturgeon. <br />POTENTIAL APPROACHES TO HABITAT RESTORATION <br />Remedies for the loss of habitat involve reversing or minimizing habitat changes that have reduced the <br />value of the Central Platte and Lower Platte River areas for the target species. The Service has assessed <br />the needs of the three bird species and the pallid sturgeon for Platte River channel and adjacent habitat in <br />the Central Platte Valley, and has identified various potential habitat changes to improve conditions for <br />the target species. These changes include: <br />Restoring some areas of wide, open river channel with unvegetated sandbars. <br />December 2003 <br />I'VI) <br />